The start of the season can feel like a winter wonderland, but for many, there comes a time when you just want to hide under the covers and hibernate until spring. Unfortunately not all of us have that luxury, so here are my top 3 tips to help you get through the winter blues.
1. Invest in a warm jacket or coat.
This one sounds obvious but I’m surprised at how many people I hear every day complain about the cold. I suggested some jackets to my friend and she no longer feels like quitting work every morning to move down south. A genuine down jacket or a wool coat will get you far.
When buying a down jacket check the label for the fill power or the percentage of down. The fill power measures the “fluffiness” of the jacket and should be at least 550. The percentage of down should be 80% or more to ensure proper insulation. Also look at the fabric to make sure there are no feathers sticking out since real down includes only the fluffiest part of the feather and not the stem. I recommend Eddie Bauer for good quality down jackets made for specific temperature ranges to suit your climate.
2. Take up a winter sport.
It’s time to look at the silver lining: winter can be fun! Moving out of your comfort zone to try a new winter activity can give you something to look forward to on those cold snowy days.
Try checking out a local outdoor activity group in your area on Meetup. I went cross country skiing for the first time recently and I wish I had tried it sooner! Other winter sports I recommend are the classic downhill skiing and snowboarding as well as snow shoeing, tubing (for the sports challenged), or even wacky winter sport options like speed flying or polar bear swimming!
3. Cozy up at home.
If the weather is too much to bear, don’t feel trapped indoors. Your home should be your haven. Curl up under your favorite blanket (a must) on your comfy couch and engage in your favorite form of entertainment: a good book or movie, music or my favorite: show binging (an addiction whereby you watch countless hours of one awesome TV show at a time).
I’ve recently become obsessed with the show Once Upon a Time: a modern twist on traditional fairy tale stories and characters. It’s full of suspense, action, plot twists and romance; all the ingredients for a successful day inside during a winter storm. I get my fix on Netflix.
Sources:
http://www.downjacket.org.uk/down-jacket-features
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fill_power
